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R. HOPKINS. BECORDINQ SYSTEM AND APPARATUS. APPLICATI OKHLE D DEC. 28.19H. I 1,309,41 3. Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET I- IN VEN TOR.

W NESSES:

' ATTORNEY" R. M. HOPKINS. RECORDING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS. APPLICATIONFILED DEC.28. 1917.

1,309,41 3, v Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

e a Q N v v l INVENTOR. g f W Qw/W M M ATTORNEY mm. HOPKlNS.

- RECORDINGSYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DECJB. 19H.

1,309,413. I Patented July 8, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

1 INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS, OF RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANDISTRICT TELEGRAIH COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW'JERSEY, A CORPORA- 'IIONOF NEW JERSEY. 1

RECORDING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8,1919.

Application filed December 28, 1917. Serial No. 209,258.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. IIOPKINS, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Rutherford, in the county of Bergen andState of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful RecordingSystem and Apparatus, of which the following in a specification.

My invention relates to systems for recording the signals of watchmenssignal boxes and the like, and constitutes a modification of, andimprovement on, the system for the same purpose set fonth in myapplication for Letters Patent, Serial No. 144,952,

filed January 27, 1917. In that application.

I have described a system and apparatus wherein a suitable record sheetor surface, mounted upon a movable carrier is arranged to have marks .orimpressions formed upon it by means of so-c'alled punches. Thisrecording sheet or surface is divided up into separate zones or areascorresponding to different groups of signal boxes or transmitters, andthere is a single punch or marker for each such zone or area, togetherwith means, under the control of the signals of the several signalboxes, for selecting a particular punch or that punch or marker to aparticular position with respect to the said recording sheet or surface;theresult being that such selected punch the said recording sheet orsurface, a mark distinctive, by reason of its position, of theparticular signal box or transmitter which was operated.

According to my present invention, instead of employing punches ormarkers, one for each such zone or area of the record sheet or surface,I employ spark points together with means for making, :by an electricspark a perforation or other mark in corder, and shows in marker and formoving or marker is caused to make on or in groups of signal boxes Theobject of my invention is to simplify recording systems and apparatusinvolving the use of selecting means for determining a particular pointon the record sheet or surface on which a mark is to be made.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to theaccompanying drawings, showing, more or less diagrammatically, apparatusin circuits constituting one embodiment of my invention, and will thenpoint out the novel features in claims.

In the said drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a signal box circuit with a pluralityof groups of signal boxes therein, and also illustratingdiagrammatically the several selectors, relays, and record makingdevices of the system.

, istic break wheel and its co-acting brush or pen, such as may be usedin signal boxes, sBuch as are illustrated. diagrammatically in ig. 1.Fig. 2 shows, diagrammatically, a rotary drum or record-sheet carrier,such as may be used for carrying the record-sheet of a reconnectiontherewith spark points and contact wheels whereby sparks may beprojected through the paper or record-sheet for the purpose of makingrecords on such sheet.

Fig. 2" shows, more or less diagrammatically, mechanism formoving thisdrum or record-sheet carrier.

Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the master selector and the primaryselector, combined to form one mechanism; Fig. 4 is a centrallongitudinal section of the mechan-ism shown in Fig. 3 with the centralportion of the mechanism broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective fragmentary elevation of the releasemagnet, pole piece, and armature of the primary selector; Fig. 6 is atop view of the selector mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Referring first to Fig. 1; A designates a signal box circuit comprisinga plurality of B, the number of, boxes in each group being variable.Each such box may be understood to comprise a signal-transmittingmechanism of the familiar toothed wheel and pen type, as shown, forexample, in Fig. 1 which mechanism, when operated, will break-andcomplete the subscriber, z'. e;, the initial ductor l to circuit Aaccording to some prearranged signal, distinctive of the particular boxto which the transmitting mechanism operated belongs. Such signal may beconsidered to be a box number, each number to consist of two digits; onedigit, preferably the initial digit, of the signals of the boxes of anyone digit of all of the boxes of any one group, will be the same.

In other words, the signals of all of the boxes of one group will beginwith the digit 2; the signals of all of the boxes of another group willbegin with the digit 3; and so on. It should be explained, further, thatthe term digit is employed herein in a special sense. In the ordinarysense the term digit includes any of the numerals from one to nineinclusive. The break wheels of the signal boxes comprise teeth, withintervening notches, arranged in two groups separated by spaces; and thenumber of teeth in any one of these groups may exceed 9; yet it isconvenient to speak of the numeral represented by the teeth of any onesuch group as a digit, and no departure from principle is involved in sodoing. a

C designates a battery or other source of current supply, in circuit A,and D designates a main line relay, in said circuit A, which repeatsthesignals of boxes B in the local or central station circuits, ashereinafter described. The elements of the digits of the box signal arerepeated by said relay D into the actuating magnet a of a primaryselector G as follows:

From supply conductor X through conthe ratchetmagnet a of.selector G,(hereinafter described), conductor 2, the first contact point andcontact arm b of a master selector F, (hereinafter described), andconductor 3 to the armature and rear contact stop of main line relay D,and thence v through conductor 4, and common return lay, the mag c1.-

conductor 7, to the other supply conductor Y. As the armature of mainline relay D falls and rises during the operation of any one of the callboxes, this circuit 12-3- r-7 will be closed and broken successively,and it will be obvious that the impulses of the first digit of suchsignal box so operated, as such impuises are transmitted through magneta of selector G, will cause the contact arm 6 of that selector to travelsuccessively over the contact points of the selector until, at the endof the first digit of the box number, that contact arm I) will have cometo rest on a particular contact point of the selector G, thereby forminga circuit through one of the res 21-26 l contact poin said selector 1:teens of the selecting magnets L@ (the function of which magnets will beexplained hereinafter).

' E designates slow acting governor re- L of which is connected by netof series L@ and eadin from the conductor 8 to supply conductor X and isconnected by conductor 9 to the armature of line relay D. It will beobvious that each time the armature of relay D is retracted, circuit iscompleted through the magnet or relay E, and through conductor 7.However, this relay E is so slow in action that while its armature e ismoved away from the corresponding rear contact stop during the firstclosure of the contact of relay D in the transmission ofa digit, it doesnot again contact with its rear stop during the spaces between closuresby relay D during the transmission of that digit. The longer spaces,between the digits of the box signals, do, however, cause the armatureof relay E to close contact with its rear contact stop, thereby closinga circuit from conductor X through conductor 10, the ratchet magnet a ofmaster selector F and conductor 11, the rear contact stop of relay E,armature e and thence through conductor 7 to supply conductor Y. Closingthis circuit l011 causes the contact arm 6 of selector F to move to thesecond contact point of that selector, thereby cutting out of circuitthe ratchet magnet a of selector G and cutting into circuit l-l2-3+7 theratchet magnet a of a third selector,

The armature of relay E is attracted during the transmission oftheimpulses of the second digit of the box number; but during the spacefollowing the second digit, the armature of relay E is again released,thereby operating magnet a of master selector F and moving the contactarm 72 of that selector to the third contact point of the selector. Theinstant master selector F has been so energized, and has moved arm 6 ofmaster selector F into contact with the third contact point of thatselector, a circuit is completed from supply conductor X throughconductor 8, magnet E, conductors 9 and 3, contact arm Z) of selector F,the third contact of that selector, dividing point :r, the releasemagnet m, of selector H, the contact arm I) of selector G, the contactpoint of that selector on which such arm Z2 is then resting, theselected magthe return conductor to which those magnets are connected,to supply conductor Y. The armature e of relay E being therebyattracted, the circuit of magnet a of the master selector F is broken;and as the release magnets m of selectors F and G have been energizedsimultaneously by closure of a circuit from supply conductor X,conductor 8, magnet E, conductors 9 and 3, contact arm I) of selector Fthe third contact of that selector, point an, conductor 18, andconductor 18 to the other supply conductor Y, the arms 5 of selectors F,and H are also returned. As hereinafter described, the release of arm Z)of selector G occurs upon the breaking of the ratchet magnet a of movessuch arm I) to G, and H. The arms b-of selectors F, G,

and Hwhen permitted to return, move to a point somewhat heyond or inrear of the rst contact points of those selectors. The ma 'et a ofselector. F bein -in acircuit which is normally closed, an that magnet abeing energized immediately upon the return of the arm I) to normal,immediately the first contact point holds it there until, the circuit ofmagnet a being broken and subsequently completed, the ratchet pawl,hereinafter referred to, operated by such magnet a, retreats, engagesanother tooth of the ratchet operating-mechanism of that arm I), andmoves such arm I) to the second point of the selector.

Magnets a of selectors G and H are each in a normal open circuit, and,therefore,

of selector F and the arm b'corresponding. to each such magnet 0, whenreturned, remains in rear of the first of this series of contacts of theselector until, through the receipt of a corresponding digit of thesignal of a box, advanced to the first of such series of contacts, and.possibly to somev other contact point of the selector.

n designates a, so-called spark relay connected in multiple with therelease magnets m of selectors F, G, and H. When the magnet of thisrelay n is energized, it closes the primary circuit of a spark coil 0.Each of the relays 'LQ, gized, closes a circuit path from the secondaryof the spark coil 0 to a contact wheel p opposite a correspondingsectional contact LQ, on the drum 51 of the recorder; such drum, asindicated in Fig. 2, being divided into sections each having aconductive surface, L or N, etc., insulated from all of theother suchconductive surfaces but arranged to be connected by its wheel p and bythe contacts of-its correspondin relay H to the secondary of the' sparcoil 0. It will be apparentithat selector G, b its operation, selects aparof spark ticular one 0 such sectional contacts. Op-

osite each of these sectional contacts '-Q is a row of spark pointsL-Q,",

set is connectedto a corresponding contact of selector H. "It'will beapparent that the effect of the operation of selector H is to select aparticular spark point of a set.-oppositethe particular sectionalcontact al- J read selected by selector G. Since the at the instantofspar relay n is energized energization of release magnet m. ofselector H, at the instant of closure of the contacts relay n a spark ispro agated across the gap between the articu ar.sec tional contact ofseries already 'se-' that arm I) is when its magnet is enerso permittingreturn movement of rate points of each such .a number of spacescorrespon lected, to the particular spark point of series L -Q," alreadyselected, and thereby a mark is. made on the paper sheet carried b therecorder drum, in accordance with signal transmitted by the particularcall box operated. From the sectional contacts the spark current passesback through rollers p to return. j

' While the record sheet intervenes between the roller 17 and theconductive surfaces L'-Q, yet the current of the spark, being of hightension, will pass through the pape; from the conductive surface L.-Q tosuch roller p; and in practice itis found that no mark is made by thecurrent in so passing, this being due probably to the fact that therollers 12 are in actual contact with the- 55,,(Fig. 2) itself operatedby a time movement R and relay S (Fig. 1).

Selectora-The selectors F, G, and the recorder are similar inconstruction; and H being identical, except as to the number of contactoints, while s ecific differences between se ector F and se H will bepointed out hereafter. I will describe only selector G, since selector His exactly similar except in the difference in contact points. 7

Each of these selectors. comprises a row of contact oints, a contact arm6 adapted to travel over'these points successively and to make contacttherewith, a ratchet wheel 81 connected to sucharm b to move the same, aratchet magnet a, an armature 82 therefor, a

spring-returned ratchet-pawl 83 o erated bysaid armature 82, andengaging t e teeth of ratchet wheel 81 to rotate said wheel, a holdawl 81, and a release magnet m which, in t e case of selector F, whenenergized, pulls pawl 84 clear of the ratchet wheel g1, t at et wheeland contact arm I) under the influence of a spring 85. The manner ofreleaseof'arm b of selector G will be explained hereinafter. Whenratchet magnet a of selector G is energized, the first portion of theresulting movement of the ratchet awl -83 of that selector moves thatpawl into engagement with, a tooth. of the correspondin ratchet wheel81;.further movement 0 that pawl-advancing the ratchetwheel through-thespace of one tooth, whereupon the ratchet wheel is held, temporarily,

against return, by holding pawl 84:. Successive energizations of theratchet magnet a of either selector advance the ratchet wheel 81 dmg tothe numerical value of' he digit of the box signal The p'awl 84 0fselector G (the righthand selector shown inFigs. 3 and 1) carries aectors G and.

l-lof by which that ratchet magnet is being operated pawl 84 which, whenthe ratchet wheel 81 is in normal position, is held in the pos1- tionshown by a pin 81 carried by ratchet wheel 81. When wheel 81 of selectorG is advanced by ratchet pawl 82, a Spring 84 forces a pawl 84- into.position for engagement with an extension of armature 84. When magnet mof selector G is energized, the armature 84 is pulled up so that theextension of said armature engages with the hook'of pawl 84. Uponden'ergization of such magnet m and consequent retraction of armature84, the extension of such armature, being still in engagement with pawl84, will raise that pawl, and with it, the holding pawl 84, Soermittingreturn of ratchet wheel 81; and at the end of such return pin 81'disengages 84 from 84.

Fire signaZa-Fire signals are usually d1stinguished from watchmenssignals by a dash, or by a Morse character contalmng a dash, precedingor following the box num-' her; also, by giving the box number of signala greater number of times than for the watchmens signal. Signal boxeswhich distinguish in this manner between fire signals and watchmans'signals are well known and in common use. Such boxes commonly comprisemeans whereby the distinguishing signal (the dash of the Morse lettercontaining the dash) is omitted when sending watchmens signals. Thebreak wheel 90 shown in Fig. 1*, which wheel is characteristic of breakwheels forming a part of the transmitting mechanism of com ined Watchmenand fire alarm boxes, has teeth for transmitting not only the box number(42, in the particular instance shown) but also the MOISe letter F (dot,dash, dot). It is to be understood that, for watchmens signals, theboxes B are provided with one of the Well-knOWn means for eliminatinthis letter F from the watchmans signal; ut that when a fire signal issent from any of these boxes the said Morse letter F is included as apart of the signal. This special fire signal is made evident at thecentral station as follows: a

U and V, Fig. 1, are slow-acting relays, preferably similar to the relayE already described. These two relays are connected in what may betermed cascade series; that is to say, the contacts of relay U controlthe magnet circuit of relay V. The circuit for the magnet of relay U isfrom supply conductor X through conductor 8 to magnet of relay U, thencethrough conductor 13 to the armature of relay D, thence throughconductors 4 and 7 to return at Y. This circuit'isclosed each time thepen 91 (Fig. 1) of the box rides upon one of the teeth of the signalwheel 90, and when in consequence, contact is broken between 91' and 92,and thearmature of relay D drops. The circuit for relay.V is from X and8 through the contacts of relay U and thence,

' 4 and 7 to return at .1.

drop relay W, as

when these contacts are closed, through the magnet of relay V and to thearmatureof relay D and thence through the conductors The retardationobtained by employing two such relays in cascade series, and by theproper adjustment of the relays, is such that the contacts of relay Vare not closed while en 91 is passin over the short teeth'of the xnumber of reak wheel 90, but are closed during the passage of pen 91over the dash of the Morse letter F. The contacts of relay V, so closed,complete a circuit throu h the magnet of a Follows: from supplyconductor X, conductor 14, conductor 3, conductor 15, magnet of relay W,contacts of relay V, conductor 16, magnet m of selector F, ma et m ofselector G, and back to return at This relay W has a drop armature,which, when attracted toward the magnet of the relay, brings togethercontacts 5 and 6, and thereby places a register 17 in circuit betweenthe armature of relay D and supply conductor X. The register will thenrecord subsequently received box number signals.

The drop armature of relay W is restored by hand (or otherwise) to opencontacts 5 and 6 and throwthe register 17 out of action. The meredenergization of the magnet of the relay W does not restore thearmature.

The sending of the Morse letter F (dot, dash, dot) does not affect theselectors and H, because there being in this letter F no spaceequivalent to a space between digits, governor relay E is not operated.Selector G may be operated, but will be re stored automatically. Therelay E is operated by the impulses of the letter F, breaking thecircuit of magnet a; of selector F; and since relays U and V close thecircuits 01' release magnets in of selectors F and G during the dash ofthe letter F, by a circuit from conductor X through conductors l4 and13, magnet of relay W, contacts of relay V, conductor 16, magnets m ofselectors F and G, and thence to drops back of the first contact pointof selector F, and arm I) of selector G also drops back; but when,during the long space following the letter F, the armature of relay Edrops, the circuit of magnet (11. of selector F is completed again, andarm 6 of that selector is brought :back to the first contact point ofthat selector.

Imperfect or clash signala-1t does not always happen that signalsreceived are perfeet. Through various circumstances signals aresometimes incomplete or faulty, and sometimes two or more boxes areoperated simultaneously (that is to one box is started before anotherbox has finished) roducing what are known as clashes. T ese clashes, orfalse signals, usually occur Y, arm I) of Selector F through i so sistof a single impulse only -s1st of a plurality of impu "a regular signal,and

. cade series constitutes,

through one watchman sending in a signal out of time and while anotherwatchman is already sending in :1 signal, or through a fire signal beingsent from one of the boxes while a watchmans signal, or a fire signal,is bein sent from another of the boxes. Such c ashes or false signalsmaybe of various characters. A false signal may conor it may. conreaterthan rst digit of ses the number of impulses 1n the such as separatesthe digits of a regu r signal; or a false signal. may be divlded intodigits, but

comprised in the first digit of a regular signal; or, the false signal,or clash signal, may contain a dash similar to that of the Morsecharacter F, with or without a long space, such as the spaces between diits.

It is desirable, when possi 1e, to record such false signals, orclashes; and to that end upon the drum 51 of the recorder has beenprovided a separate section 93v for the pur-. clashes or other imperfectpose of recording signals. Referring to Fig. 1 it will be noted thatthere are two relays, and T, connected in cascade series in theconductor 10 on opposite sides of theresistance 94. v. By cascadeseries'is meant that the magnet circuit of one relay, T for exam le,passes the armature contacts 0 relay, T, so that the circuit of relay Tmust be closed before the circuit of relay T can be closed (a series ofrelays connected in casin effect, a single rela of very slpw actingcharacter, and in the 0 lowing claims such-a series of relays connectedin cascade series is to be considered as included within the, termrelay") Another resistance, 94, usually a tungsten lamp of about 25 wa.ts, is alsointerposed in the circuit 10, and serves both as a resistanceand as an indication of the condition of the circuit in which it isinterposed. a

On the drum is provided. a conductive section, 96, corresponding to aspark point, 97,

and a roller 12, whereby a record may be made of clashes and imperfectsignals, in the same manner that records are made on other portions ofthe record sheet, by sparks propagated I rom the vsets of spark pointsIt is important, not only that clash signals or other imperfect signals,including false signals, shall berecor ed on theportion of the recordsheet corresponding'to the portion 93 of the drum, but also it isimportant that such a clash signal, or imperfect s' a1, shall not berecorded in any of the co umns allotted for regular si als; likewise, itis important that no clas signal, or other false signal, shall leave thearm I) of the master selector F on the sewnd or inter- 171,940, filedMay other companion applicationfof even date herewith, filed Dec.209,257 I have illustrated and described without any long space thefirst. digit may comprise a greater number of impulses than can be mysaid application the other nal to resting,

mediatecontact oint of that selector; for, if

- this arm were le 'on this second or intermediate contact point, theselecting mechanism would be 1 locked up,

In my. companion application, Serial No.

31, 1917', and also in an- 28, 1917, Sr, 7N0.

lmeans for the recording of clash signals and other imperfect signals,

for preventing such clash, or imperfect, signals from being recorded inthe columns allotted for regular signals, and for preventing the lockingup ofthe selecting mechanism through the leaving of arm b second .orintermediate contact point of that selector. In the present applicationI illustrate, and will now describe, means for such purposes,corresponding to the means for such purposes illustrated and describedin filed Dec. 28, 1917, Sr. No. 209,257, but adapted for making recordsofclash signals and other imperfect signals by means of sparkapparatus.-

Obviously, in the case of aclash signal, rality of dots greater thanthose in a regular digit signal, there will follow a space until therestoring devices, such as herein described function. The slow actionrela s T and T. (together constituting, as alrea y stated, a single slowacting relay) or false contained are provided to distinguish between thelong I spaces between digits of a regular si and the longer spacesollowing a false sigthat is to say, these relays are provid permit oftime intervals, in excess of the length of the spacesbetween digits ofregular signals, after which the said restoring means shall come intoaction, together with the clash recording relay Z. The circuitconnections b which the circuit of the magnet of relay is closed throughthe contact points of relays T and T are as follows:

from conductor X, through conductor 14,

conductor- 3, conductor 95, magnet of relay Z, conductor 98, contactpoints of relay T conductor 99, contacts 19 and 20 .of master selector F(contact being closed between 19 and 20 when arm 6 of master selector Fis on its second contact point) point 21, release In et m of selector F,release magnet m of selector G, and through conductor 18 to returnconductor Y; also from point a: through magnet mof selector H, thecontact arm I) of selector G and the particular contact point of thatselector, on which arm b is then and the spark relay to return conductorY By the closing of the circuits mentioned all of the selectors oftherecorder magnet Z, and also the return ofthe selectors consisting of a'single'dot,'or of a pluof master selector F on the clash column, by

case the false impulses greater than the impulses in the to normal, incase the signal containing the clash is of such a nature as to leave thecontact arm I) of selector F upon the second contact point of thatselector.

A false signal, consisting of a single impulse only, will have theeffect of mo the contact arm Z) of selector F to its second contactpoint; and will also have the efiect of moving the arm I) of selector Gto the contact point connected to punch magnet L; but since selector Hhas not been operated by such a signal, no registration by spark pointsof series L will occur, the clash being represented only by the recordmade by the clash magnet. Similarly, other false signals consisting of aplurality of impulses not separated by a long space, such as a spacebetween digits, 'will not cause the operation of the selector H, and sowill be represented on the record sheet only by the mark made by thespark point of clash magnet Z. In signal contains a number of firstdigit of a regular signal (and with -no long space between impulses) or,in case the false signal consists of a plurality of digits, the first ofwhich contains a number of impulses greater than the impulses in thefirst digit of a regular signal, then the arm 6 of selector G will cometo rest on a final contact point of that selector which is connectedthrough the circuit closed by relay T and through the contacts of magnetZ to this final contact point of the selector and thence through the armI) of that selector to the restoring circuits; and thereby the variousselectors will be restored to zero.

There are certain other kinds of clashes,"

namely, those which contain a dash similar to that of the Morsecharacter F and which do not contain spaces, other than those betweenthe regular. impulses of a digit, which will not be recorded in the themeans just above described. Such signals, however, viz., clash signalscontaining a dash similar to that of the Morse character F and notcontaining long spaces, will operate the drop rela W through the actionof the relays U and V and so Wlll cause the operation of the register 17and the return of the recorders to normal, substantially in the samemanner as described in my said prior application, Serial No. 171,940,11. e., as follows:

Should, for any'reason, asignal containing a dash similar to that of theMorse character F and not containing spaces other than those betweendigits be received, then, upon the reception of the dash, U and V willbe operated, relay V closing a circuit as follows: from conductor X,through conductor 14, armature of relay D conductor 3, ma et of droprelay W, contacts of relay to point 0:, and --thence through theclearing circuits containing the relays release magnets, as describedheretofore. The magnet of drop relay W being energized, the register 17is placed in circuit, and the remainder of such a clash signal will berecorded on the register.

my prior application, Serial No. 171,940, above referred to, I havedisclosed recording apparatus wherein a master selector F, similar tothe master selector F of the present application, is provided withcontact points similar to the contact points 19 and 20 of the presentinvention; and have also provided a slow acting relay in series with aratchet magnet of the master selector. But the connections of thecontact points 19 and -20 and of the slow acting relays T and T of thepresent case are quite difl'erent from the connections of thecorresponding parts in my said prior application; and attention is drawnto this fact to avoid possible confusion.

What I claim is:

1. In a recording system, the combination with signaling means adaptedfor producing signals comprising a plurality of groups of impulses, of aplurality of recording means each comprising a plurality of spark pointsadapted to project electric sparks and thereby to make records on arecording surface, and selecting means adapted to be actuated by thesignals of said signaling means and adapted to select a particularrecording means and a particular spark point of that recording means,under control of said signals.

2; In 'a recording system, the combination with a line relay andsignaling means adapted for actuating said relay by signals comprising aplurality of groups of impulses, of a plurality of recordin means eachcomprising a plurality of spar points adapted .to roject electric sparksand thereby to ma e records on a recording surface, a plurality ofselectors arranged to be connected successively to said line relay foractuation thereby, and a master selector arranged to switch said firstmentioned selectors into connection with said line relay successively,said selectors arranged to select a particular recording means and aparticular spark point of that recording means, under control of saidsignals.

3. In a recording system, the combination with a line relay andsignaling means adapted for actuating said relay by signals comprising aplurality of groups of im pulses, of a plurality of record means eachcomprising a plurality of spar points adapted to project electric sparksthereby to make records on a recording surface, a plurality of selectorsarranged to be connected. successively to said line relay for actuationthereby, a. master selector arranged to switch said first mentionedselectorsinto connection with said line relay and successively, and agovernor relay controlling said master selector and itself controllledby spaces between digits of the sig na s.

4. In a recording system, the combination with a record-sheet carrierdivided into a plurality of sections each having a sectional contact, ofa plurality of recording means located opposite said sectional contactsrespectively and each comprising a plurality of spark points adapted toproject electric sparks to said sectional con tacts, and thereby to makerecords on said record sheet, signaling means adapted for producingsignals comprising a plurality of groups of impulses, and selectingmeans adapted to be actuated by the signals of said signaling means andadapted to select a particular recording means and a particular sparkpoint of that recording means, under control of said. signals.

5. In a recording system, the combination with a record-sheet carrierdivided into a plurality of sections each having a sectional contact, ofa plurality of recording means located opposite said sectional con-'tacts respectively and each comprising a plurality of spark pointsadapted to project electric sparks to, said sectional contacts, andthereby .to make records on said record sheet, signaling means adaptedfor producing signals comprising a plurality of groups of impulses,selecting means adapted to be actuated by the signals of said signalingmeans and adapted to select a particular recording means and aparticular spark point of that recording means, under control of saidsignals, a spark relay arranged to be operated by the final selectorupon completion of the selection operation, and a spark coil controlledby said spark relay and arranged upon actuation of that relay to projecta high tension current impulse through the selected spark point to theselected sectional contac 6. In a recording system, the combination witha record-sheet carrier divided into a plurality of sections each havinga sectional contact, of a means located opposite said sectional contactsrespectively and each comprising a lurality of spark points adapted toproect electric sparks to said sectional conlurality of recording tacts,and thereby to make records on said record sheet, signaling meansadapted for producing signals comprising a plurality of groups ofimpulses, selecting means adapted to be actuated by the signals of saidsignaling means and adapted to select a particular recording means and aparticular spark point of that recording means, under control of saidsignals, said selectors comprising restoring means actuated upon ing aplurality of spark points adapted to project electric sparks and therebyto make records ona recording circuit carried by said carrier, and aplurality of return current devices likewise located opposite saidsectional contacts and adapted to provide a return path for the currentfrom said sectional contacts through the record-sheet to said returncontact devices.

8. In a recorder, the combination with a record-sheet carrier dividedinto a plurality of sections, and provided with a sectional 'contact foreach such section, of a plurality of recording means each comprising aplurality of spark points adapted to project electric sparks and therebyto make records on a recording circuit carried by said carrier,-and aplurality of return current rollers likewise located opposite saidsectional contacts and adapted to provide a return path for the currentfrom said sectional contacts through the record-sheet to said returncontact rollers.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR ECKERT STEARNS, ABIGAIL FAY MCGLEAN.

